Children's home run by West Sussex County Council

Assurance visit report: SC037447 1 SC037447

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to accommodate up to 16 children aged between five and 18 years old who have a learning disability. This is a local authority home that provides short- and long-stay accommodation.

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Information about this children’s home

A suitably qualified manager has been registered with Ofsted since March 2007.

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection date: 2 September 2019

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection judgement: Outstanding

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Information about this visit

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), Ofsted suspended all routine inspections in March 2020. As part of a phased return to routine inspection, we are undertaking assurance visits to children’s social care services that are inspected under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF).

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Information about this visit

At these visits, inspectors evaluate the extent to which:

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Information about this visit

 children are well cared for  children are safe  leaders and managers are exercising strong leadership. This visit was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000, following the published guidance for assurance visits.

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Information about this visit

Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills is leading Ofsted’s work into how England’s social care system has delivered child-centred practice and care within the context of the restrictions placed on society during the COVID-19 pandemic. Assurance visit report: SC037447 2

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Findings from the visit

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance visit.

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The care of children

Children thrive in this caring home where staff make considerable efforts to keep them safe and reassure them during a worrying time for them and their families.

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The care of children

Children benefit from having adults around them who understand their needs, foibles and idiosyncrasies. The carefully thought through support is designed to meet each child’s unique needs. Consistent and committed care from the staff helps the children to feel safe and to make significant progress.

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The care of children

Members of staff are acutely aware of how difficult it has been for the children to understand what COVID-19 is and how it has affected the whole world. Despite this challenge, each child has a bespoke social story, which explains to them at a level commensurate with their understanding, the impact and constraints that COVID-19 has placed upon them. This has helped children to cope with the impact and has also helped them to manage their anxieties when changes to their routines have had to happen.

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The care of children

Children were carefully supported to home school during the initial national lockdown and were able to return to school once restrictions were eased. Children showed excellent resilience during the change to home schooling and made progress beyond everyone’s expectations, much to the delight of their families and staff.

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The care of children

Some children have not been able to access the respite service during COVID-19 restrictions. Nevertheless, members of staff have demonstrated dedication and commitment and provided support and help to the families in their own homes. The level of support to some families in managing through this difficult time has been exemplary.

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The care of children

The children who have been unable to return home during the COVID-19 pandemic have been supported to maintain contact with families using information technology. This has not only reassured them but has increased their skills in using this media. During this time, care planning meetings and interventions have also taken place using virtual media; this has included therapy sessions for children where appropriate.

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The care of children

The determination of staff has ensured that as far as possible, despite measures imposed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, children’s quality of life and their opportunities to take part in enriching and enjoyable activities have been maintained. Assurance visit report: SC037447 3

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The safety of children

There has been clear guidance for all staff to follow with regards to managing the impact of COVID-19 on the home. Issues have been resolutely dealt with to ensure that children have been kept safe. Managers have closely monitored and controlled footfall in the home to significantly reduce the chances of cross-infection. They have conscientiously followed guidance and advice from Public Health England.

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The safety of children

Members of staff are knowledgeable about each child’s individual vulnerabilities. They have up-to-date care plans, which they regularly review and implement in practice, in order to promote each child’s well-being.

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The safety of children

Incidents are assessed, reflected upon and seen as learning opportunities. When needed, support plans and practice are promptly amended to minimise a repeat of any incidents. The sensitive support that children receive ensures that they have predictable and consistent routines. This is underpinned by staff’s understanding of their methods of communication so that the children’s anxieties can be reduced. A measure of this success is the fact that there have been no incidents of physical intervention for over 18 months.

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The safety of children

Social workers and other safeguarding professionals report good communication and sharing of information if there are concerns about a child’s welfare. Members of staff have displayed alertness and awareness when providing support to families and as a result, have also promoted the safety and protection of children in the wider community.

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Leaders and managers

This has been a challenging time for managers and the staff team. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has coincided with a restructuring of managerial posts in the organisation’s residential provision. Despite these distractions, staff have remained focussed and committed to providing excellent support to children and their families.

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Leaders and managers

The registered manager has adjusted the service provided in order to minimise the risk posed by COVID-19. This initially meant that short-term respite care was stopped until national measures were eased. This enabled staff to concentrate on providing stability and care to permanent residents.

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Leaders and managers

Staff also took in to account each child’s cognitive abilities and then helped them to understand why the world has changed so much and why there are restrictions on their outings, school and contacts.

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Leaders and managers

Where needed, members of staff have provided support to families in the community. In some cases, this has required them to show excellent resilience and flexibility and the provision of this support has been exemplary. Assurance visit report: SC037447 4 The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has been seen as an opportunity to learn by the managers in this home. For example, the children’s ability to use information technology has been developed beyond staff’s expectations. The managed structure of staff handovers and working in ‘bubbles’ has also provided an opportunity to reflect on how the flow of staff around the home can be minimised and disruption controlled once COVID-19 restrictions have ceased. Some of this impact has been fortuitous and not originally foreseen. The registered manager is keen that this period of time should be used as positively as possible and she has used the information as a basis for moving the service forward.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: West Sussex County Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: County Hall, West Street, Chichester, West Sussex PO19 1RQ.

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Inspector

Paul Taylor, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: SC037447 5 to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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